Ex-Jets Lowery, Coleman out to prove they belong with new team

DBs Lowery, Coleman are out to prove they belong as Jaguars

The Jaguars' Dwight Lowery (25) celebrates with Drew Coleman (30) after intercepting a Matt Hasselbeck pass, sealing the Jaguars' 16-14 victory over the Titans last Sunday. Both Lowery and Coleman once played for the Jets, who face the Jaguars on Sunday.

Change hasn't always suited safety Dwight Lowery, but he didn't have much of a choice on Sept. 3 when he had one day to move 1,000 miles after the New York Jets traded him to the Jaguars.

"The stubborn side of me comes out a lot, but in this situation I've really embraced it," Lowery said. "I feel like I can help this team. It makes me feel like I have value as a player. I started wondering whether or not I did, being a part of [the Jets] organization."

He's already shown value to the Jaguars as has nickel corner Drew Coleman, another former New York Jet. Lowery caught the game-clinching interception in the Jaguars' season opener and Coleman led the team in tackles with seven according to the coaches' tallies, recording one sack-fumble.

This week they'll face their former team at MetLife Stadium and do their best to approach it like just another game.

"Approaching a game in a personal manner with a chip on your shoulder ... I don't think that's the way to win," Lowery said. "I think you've got to use your mind, especially when you're going against a team that you've been with for three years. They might do things a little differently than they did when I was there. So you've got to be prepared for that, and if you're too emotional, then you're not going to be able to catch on to those types of things."

Lowery often calls or texts Coleman to ask questions about the defense. The trouble is, Coleman is so new himself sometimes he has to refer Lowery to someone who's been here a little longer.

"It's been six weeks?" Coleman said. "It feels more like three weeks."

Unlike Lowery's forced move, Coleman made the choice to join the Jaguars in free agency with a three-year deal worth up to $7.4 million. The Jets didn't compete with the offer financially.

"We had to get a tackle signed, we had to get other things priority-wise and we had a first-round pick, Kyle Wilson, that we think a great deal of, to play that nickel role," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "So, that's why we really couldn't afford Drew. But we would have loved to have him back."

Coleman, whom the Jets drafted in the fifth round in 2006, led all NFL cornerbacks with four sacks last year. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Coleman sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger twice. Roethlisberger outweighs Coleman by 60 pounds.

"I don't think they account for me because I'm so small," said Coleman, who said he weighs about 180 pounds. "They think, 'Oh he's not going to come, smaller guy.' They cut me free and I've always been taught to go after the ball."

Just like Coleman's sack in the season opener was in keeping with his reputation last season, Lowery's game-clinching interception aligned with his reputation in New York.

"I always called him a closer," Ryan said.

Last season Lowery, whom the Jets drafted in the fourth round of 2008, returned two interceptions for touchdowns. He recovered an aborted snap by Denver quarterback Kyle Orton with 42 seconds remaining in that game. In the last game of the 2010 season, Lowery intercepted a Buffalo Bills pass on the final defensive play of the game.

But as he watched personnel decisions and saw his practice reps reduce in this year's preseason, Lowery realized he might not be with the Jets much longer.

The cut-day trade didn't come as a surprise. Lowery rewarded the franchise that took him almost right away. He called the game-clinching interception easy, figuring Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck didn't know him well enough to avoid it.

"To come to a team that wanted me to be there and be able to finish that game in that fashion is pretty special," Lowery said. "I don't expect anything less of myself for the rest of the season. I don't want these guys to expect anything less from me than what I showed that day."